What is Eco School Uniform and Should You Be Buying It?

Our Eco-Uniform is school uniform with a very special story. The reason we call it Eco-Uniform is because it is made from recycled plastic bottles, which means we make a really positive impact on the environment. As a result, it has prevented 37 million plastic bottles from going to landfill since we launched it. School uniform which is durable, sustainable and award winning? We reckon they are pretty good reasons to buy it.

What makes the school Uniform Eco?

Back in 2010 David Luke Schoolwear was the first business within the industry to introduce recycled polyester to its product portfolio. Our Eco-blazer launched in 2010 and is now SCS Accredited. This means it is certified as being between 30% – 100% post-consumer waste. Now, all the garments in our Eco-uniform range contain polyester made from non-biodegradable plastic drinking bottles, which would otherwise end up in landfill. Each item consists of part or total polyester content made from recycled plastic bottles.

How do you use recycled plastic bottles in clothing manufacturing?

We use recycled plastic bottles instead of crude oil in the production process to create polyester for our Eco-uniform. Therefore, not only reducing landfill but the total process of producing polyester in this way also uses less energy and reduces CO2 emissions. It is our belief that Eco-uniform should cost no more than an equivalent quality non-eco school uniform garment. That every item of out Eco-uniform is as durable and high in quality as our non-eco garments. Whilst being as easy to care for and as comfortable as our non-eco garments. And don’t worry we’re trying really hard to make as many of our school uniform items Eco.

How many plastic bottles does it take to make an item of clothing?

It probably doesn’t take as many plastic bottles to make a school blazer as you might think, but if you switch to an eco school uniform, one average pupil’s uniform could save up to 30 plastic bottles from landfill. And, if you then times that by an average secondary school size*, that’s a whopping 36,000 plastic bottles that one school can prevent going to landfill! It really is that simple.

• Eco-blazers & jackets: 100% of the polyester in our Eco-blazers & jackets comes from recycled plastic bottles. Average number of bottles used is 18.
• Boys Eco-trousers & shorts: 30% of the polyester used in our Boys Eco-trousers & Eco-shorts comes from recycled plastic bottles. Average number of bottles used is 4.
• Girls Eco-trousers & skirts: 100% of the polyester in our Girls Eco-trousers & Eco-skirts comes from recycled plastic bottles. Average number of bottles used is 5.
• Eco-polo shirts: 100% of the polyester in our Eco-polo shirts comes from recycled plastic bottles. Average number of bottles used is 2.
• Eco-sweatshirts: 100% of the polyester in our Eco-Sweatshirts comes from recycled plastic bottles. Average number of bottles used is 3.

*Based on an average school size of 1,200.